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Congress-RJP part ways in Gujarat

The Congress and the Rashtriya Janata Party led by former Gujarat chief minister Shankarsinh Vaghela today parted ways, following the failure of seat adjustment talks.

Addressing the media in Ahmedabad, Vaghela said his party would, however, support 'friendly individuals in the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party in the coming election'. He also said his party would contest 20 Lok Sabha and 150 of the 182 assembly seats on its own.

Following this, the Congress has also decided to contest the election on its own.

According to Congress spokesperson Najma Heptulla, the party would finalise its electoral strategy by tomorrow.

The initial understanding between the RJP and the Congress was that the latter would contest 13 Lok Sabha seats while the RJP seven seats.

The dispute arose over six Lok Sabha and over 30 assembly seats. With both parties taking a rigid stand, Vaghela finally announced severing of the 15-month alliance.

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